Holders for television tubes and other objects



E. T. WAYNE Sept. 9, 1958 HOLDERS FOR TELEVISION TUBES AND OTHER OBJECTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 24. 1956 FIG.1.

I IN VEN TOR. Edward T.Wayne dit'i'oryy Sept. 9, 1958 E. 'r. WAYNE 2,851,679

- HOLDERS FOR TELEVISION TUBES AND OTHER OBJECTS Filed July 24. 1956 v 2 sheets-sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

5 Edward T.Wayne BY I United States Patent HOLDERS FOR TELEVISION TUBES AND OTHER OBJECTS Edward T. Wayne, Port Crane, N. Y., assignor to E. H. Tltchener & C0., Binghamton, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 24, 1956, Serial No. 599,846

6 Claims. (Cl. 340-367) This invention relates to holders or supporting means for television tubes and other similar objects and particularly articles of fragile nature, and has for its primary object the provision of means by which the tube will be securely held and safely supported while in the cabinet of the set or when detached therefrom.

The present invention relates to a holder of the type shown and described in my Patent No. 2,743,435, dated April 24, 1956, and is an improvement thereover. It contemplates the provision of a tube holder so arranged that it is easily fitted on the tube and can be permitted to remain thereon at all times whether the tube is attached to the chassis or secured to the cabinet or is disconnected from the set or cabinet. It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a tube holder which can be largely constructed of metallic rod; which will possess sufiicient strength :to protect the tube and yet shall be sufiiciently resilient or springy to enable it to be readily conformed in shape to the peripheral edge of the tube and engage or grip the same sufliciently to avoid shifting movement of the tube, but without the application of excessive gripping force likely to damage or fracture the glass envelope of the tube.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of a single-rod split ring encircling the periphery of the tube and clamped about thesame, and a plurality of spaced brackets welded to either the inside or outside of the ring at the four corners (quarters) of the tube, which brackets are shaped to restrain forward and backward movement of the tube relatively to the ring and are provided with means by which they may be attached to the interior of the cabinet and to the set chassis and are also provided with means by which a wire-rod harness extending around the rear of the tube may be engaged and adjustably fitted in position and maintained on the tube. v i 1 With these and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein an ilustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed, v

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a holder for television tubes and other objects, constructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one of the brackets;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of .the bracket shown in Fig. 2, with parts in section;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view, on a reduced scale, of a second form of bracket;

Fig. -5 is an enlarged side elevational view of a part of the bracket shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a television tube, showing the holder fitted thereon;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of the adjusting means for the split ring;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the adjusting means shown in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of a slightly modified form of bracket, with a portion thereof shown in section.

Referringto the drawing, 1 indicates the tube-encircling and holding ring. The same is preferably composed of a single length of springy metallic rod and is of a shape to enable it to encircle the television tube 2 and closely fit about its periphery 3 adjacent to the forward or larger end of the tube as shown in Fig. 6. The ring is split or divided as indicated at 4 in Figs. 1 and 7. Secured to the ends of the split ring as by welding are angle-pieces 5 and 6 which are transversely ribbed as shown at 7 and each of the angle-pieces is provided with an off-set end 8 through which an adjusting bolt 9 extends. The bolt is provided with a nut 10 and by suitable positioning of the nut along the length of the bolt 9 the angle-pieces are drawn toward one another or separated to an extent to draw the ring 1 closely around the periphery 3 of the tube 2 and clam'pingly grip the same. If desired, pads or otherpressure-absorbing elements might be interposed between the encircling ring and tube or between the brackets thereon and the tube.

Secured to the encircling ring by welding at positions locating them at the four corners of the tube, are brackets indicated at 11 and 12 which may be welded to either the inside or outside of the ring 1. All of these brackets are substantially similar, but have slight differences as will be apparent from a comparison of Figs. 2 and 4. Each bracket is formed with a forward, out-turned lug 13, having an aperture 14, through which bolts, screws or other fastening members may be extended to fasten the ring and hence the tube supported by it to the chassis and to the inside surfaces of the television set cabinet. Each bracket is suitably ribbed as shown at 14a and 15 thus facilitating the spot welding of the wire rod ring 1 to the brackets as well as fastening rods shown at 17. The rods shown at 17 are welded to the two brackets shown at 11, and each of these rods is provided with screw threads indicated at 16 to receive adjustment nuts 18a.

Each of the two brackets shown at 12 is formed adjacent to its rear end, with a stamped-out hook member 18. Extending rearwardly from the retaining ring 1 is a harness composed of metallic wire rod, which harness includes a pair of rods 20 and 21 connected in spaced relation by the cross rods 22, thus providing a central frame through which the stem 23 of the television tube is extended substantially as shown in Fig. 6. Each of the rods 20 and 21 has two legs indicated respectively at 24 and 25. As shown in full lines in Fig. 1, each of the legs 24 extends to a bracket 12 and is formed with a looped end 26 engaged with the hook 18 on each of these brackets. Each of the legs extends to a bracket 11, and each of these legs is formed at its end with a loop 27 which encircles the threaded rod 17. It will be apparent that by this arrangement, the adjustment of the nuts 18a on the two threaded rods 16 will result in the harness being snugly drawn around the rear portion of the tube substantially as shown in Fig. 6, so that the tube is thus embraced between the ring and brackets at the forward end of the tube, and the rear frame of the harness at the back end of the tube.

It is to be noted that the shape of the brackets 11 and 12 is such that the forward portion 30 of each bracket is inclined inwardly toward the center of the tube, which arrangement tends to prevent forward shifting movement of the tube relatively to the ring 1. At its rear end, each bracket is again bent inwardly, as indicated at 31, which conforms it to the conical shape of the tube and tends to prevent backward movement of the tube relatively to the ring 1.

A modification of the manner of applying the harness to the rear of the tube is suggested in dotted lines in Fig. 1, wherein the legs 24 of the rods 20 and 21 are disposed in crossed relationship, so that the leg 24 on rod 20 engages the bracket shown at 12a, while the leg 24 of the rod 21 is engaged with the bracket shown at 1212. This crossed relation of the legs 24 may be also employed with the legs 25 if it is found desirable or necessary.

From the foregoing, the construction and use of the improved television tube holder will be readily apparent. The device is constructed of few parts, most of which are of springy or resilient metal rod. The brackets employed in the device are shaped to not only resist shifting movement of the tube within the holder but to provide fastening lugs by which the holder and the tube held by it can be secured to the chassis or cabinet. The holder may be readily mounted on the television set chassis and can also remain on the tube when the tube is demounted from the chassis or cabinet and will then serve as a protective holder or carrier for the tube.

While I have herein suggested that the rear harness be employed in conjunction with the front encircling ring and the brackets attached thereto, it is possible to employ the ring alone and detached from the harness, particularly should relatively flat or shallow tubes come into general use. The rear harness is a safety factor in the event of a back or rear drop accident. As will be noted in Fig. 6, the members 22 of the harness are each provided with an indentation 22a which can be employed to receive the end of a coil spring 37 having its other end attached to a focussing coil 38, or rear yoke or other electrical or mechanical elements which might be needed at this location. Two springs 37 are employed at opposite sides of the tube.

In Fig. 9 is shown a slightly modified form of bracket, wherein the hook 18 is shown as being located forwardly of the angular portion 31. This hook can be employed for the reception of a grounding wire. The angular part 31 can also be provided with a rubber grommet 31a forming a cushion for contact with the tube. With this arrangement the rear harness might be dispensed with.

Having described an embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. A support for a television tube or a similar object comprising, an encircling ring consisting of a single split metal rod extended about the peripheral edge of the forward end of the tube, means for adjustably tightening the ring around the edge of the tube, a plurality of spaced metal brackets secured to the ring, each bracket having an inwardly-directed forward end to confine the tube against forward movement relatively to the ring, each bracket having an outwardly-bent attaching lug at its forward end and having an inwardly-directed rear end to confine the tube against backward movement relatively to the ring, a harness embracing the rear portion of the tube, said harness including a plurality of legs directed toward the brackets, and means on the brackets for detachable engagement with the legs of the harness.

2. A support for television tubes and similar objects comprising, a ring encircling the periphery of the larger end of the tube, brackets secured to the ring, each bracket having an inwardly-directed rear end to restrain the tube against rearward movement relatively to the ring, the said brackets each having an inwardly-directed forward end to restrain the tube against forward movement relatively 4 to the ring, and lug portions on the forward ends of the brackets whereby said brackets can be attached to a set chassis or cabinet.

3. A support or holder for a television tube or like article comprising, a single metallic rod in the form of a split ring extending around the periphery of the larger end of the tube, means for tightening the ring about the tube, a plurality of spaced-apart metal brackets attached to the ring and extending transversely of the same, each bracket being inbent at its forward end and inbent at its rear end to thereby confine the tube against both forward and rearward shifting movement relatively to the ring, each bracket having a laterally-extended fastening lug at its forward end, some of said brackets being provided with hooks at their rear end, other brackets having threaded studs at their rear end, a harness in the form of a wire frame fitted around the stem of the tube and having forwardly-extended legs, each leg having its forward end terminating in a loop, some of said loops engaging the hooks on some of the brackets and the loops on the other legs encircling the threaded studs, and means adjustable on the threaded studs and operative against the loops thereon to tighten the harness around the tube.

4. A support for a television tube and similar object comprising, an encircling ring consisting of a single split metal rod extending about the peripheral edge of the larger. end of the tube, means for adjustably contracting the ring around the tube, four spaced metal brackets secured to the ring, each bracket having an inwardlydirected forward end to confine the tube against forward movement relatively to the ring, the bracket having an outwardly-bent apertured attaching lug at its forward end, and having an inwardly-directed rear end to confine the tube against backward movement relatively to the ring, a harness in the form of a wire frame embracing the rear portion. of the tube, said harness including four legs directed toward the brackets, means on the brackets for detachable engagement with the legs of the harness, the legs crossing one another to reach the brackets.

5. A holder for television tubes and the like comprising an element encircling the periphery of the tube, brackets secured to said element, each bracket having an angular forward part for restraining the tube against forward movement relatively to the encircling member, the

' bracket also having an integral angular rear portion restraining the tube against rearward movement relatively to the encircling member, and a cushion element held by said angular rear portion and operative against the surface of the tube.

6. In a television tube holder as provided for in claim 5, wherein the bracket is provided with means for the attachment of a ground wire, and the cushion consists of a grommet fitted in an aperture in the angular rear portion of the bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,467,185 Cady Apr. 12, 1949 2,484,345 Hinz Oct. 11, 1949 2,565,327 Shaw Aug. 21, 1951 2,743,435 Wayne Apr. 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 978,842 France Nov. 29, 1950 1,000,706 France Oct. 17, 1951 581,371 Great Britain Oct. 22, 1952 684,034 Great Britain Dec. 10, 1952 

